2025的5月底，东盟十国领导人齐聚吉隆坡，共同签署《东盟2045：我们的共同未来》愿景文件，

为区域未来二十年的发展定下大方向。这份宣言内容宏大，字里行间充满愿景与承诺，从政治安

全、经济整合、社会包容到互联互通，样样俱全，似乎已为东盟写好一部“共同进步”的剧本。

但剧本写得再好，如果演员不上台、观众不入戏，这出戏也很难成功。

从外交辞令到政策路线图

不容否认，《东盟2045》是东盟过往少见的系统性战略文件。它不再只停留在泛泛而谈的外交辞

令，而是对区域面临的真实挑战——从大国博弈、气候危机、数码转型，到贫富差距、人口老化、

青年参与——做出了有针对性的回应。

尤其值得一提的是，东盟首次清晰提出要成为印太地区的“增长中枢”（epicentre of growth），并强

调加强区域制度效能，强化东盟秘书处职能，展现了“由内而外”改变的企图心。

东盟要进步，制度也要进化

然而，东盟最大的问题从来不是“没有愿景”，而是“有愿景但无执行力”。

长年依赖“东盟方式”（ASEAN Way）——凡事以共识为前提，回避敏感议题——虽然保住了表面的

团结，却也牺牲了效率和应变能力。从缅甸政变到南海争议，东盟多次被批评“只发声明，不见行

动”。

《东盟2045》提出要提升决策效率、加强跨领域协调、整合区域资源，甚至提及动用“东盟三驾马车

机制”（Troika）应对突发危机，这些内容表明东盟内部已意识到“再不改变，可能就会边缘化”。

问题是，成员国是否愿意牺牲部分主权？尤其是面对强权压力时，东盟是否真能维持“中心性”与独

立判断？答案目前尚不明朗。

马来西亚该如何定位？

作为此次东盟高峰会的东道主，马来西亚不仅是会议主轴的策动者，更在区域发展议题中扮演关键

角色。近年来政府推动的“柔新经济特区”（JSSEZ）、加强与中资企业合作、强化数码经济生态，

皆符合东盟“互联互通”与“数码整合”的核心方向。

但若马来西亚要在区域中脱颖而出，仅靠地理优势与单一政策还不够。我们需要跨部会协同战略、

鼓励企业参与区域价值链、打造具影响力的青年与民间网络，甚至在公共传播上加强“东盟身份”的

社会认同。

东盟不是政府的独角戏

《东盟2045：我们的共同未来》最常出现的一个词，是“people-centred”（以人为本）。但要让这

四个字不只是口号，还得让人民真正感受到“东盟的未来，跟我有关”。换句话说，这不是一部政府独演的剧，而是一场需要全民入戏的大合唱。如果人民始终缺席，东盟

再美的愿景，也只会停留在纸上。

At the end of May 2025, leaders of all ten ASEAN countries gathered in Kuala Lumpur to jointly sign the vision document “ASEAN 2045: Our Common Future”, setting a strategic course for the region’s development over the next two decades. Grand in scope and rich in promises, the declaration touches on everything from political security, economic integration, and social inclusiveness to regional connectivity — as if ASEAN has written itself a script for collective progress.

But no matter how well-written the script, if the actors never take the stage and the audience remains disengaged, the show is unlikely to succeed.

From Diplomatic Rhetoric to a Policy Roadmap

There’s no denying that ASEAN 2045 is one of the most structured and strategic documents ASEAN has produced in recent years. It moves beyond vague diplomatic language and directly addresses real challenges facing the region — from great power rivalry, climate crisis, and digital transformation to widening inequality, population aging, and youth engagement.

Notably, for the first time, ASEAN clearly articulates its ambition to become the “epicentre of growth” in the Indo-Pacific, and stresses the importance of institutional reform — including strengthening the ASEAN Secretariat — signaling an intent for change from within.

For ASEAN to Progress, Its Institutions Must Evolve

Yet the core challenge ASEAN faces has never been a lack of vision — it’s the lack of execution.

ASEAN’s long reliance on the so-called “ASEAN Way” — prioritizing consensus and avoiding sensitive issues — has preserved surface-level unity at the cost of efficiency and responsiveness. From the Myanmar coup to South China Sea tensions, ASEAN has often been criticized for “issuing statements but taking no action.”

ASEAN 2045 calls for improved decision-making efficiency, stronger cross-sector coordination, and better integration of regional resources. It even mentions activating the “ASEAN Troika Mechanism” in response to crises — a clear sign that ASEAN now recognizes the risk of marginalization if no reforms are made.

The question remains: are member states willing to relinquish some degree of sovereignty? And more critically, when confronted with geopolitical pressure, can ASEAN truly uphold its centrality and maintain independent judgment? For now, the answer is uncertain.

How Should Malaysia Position Itself?

As host of this year’s summit, Malaysia has played a leading role not only in shaping the agenda but also in regional development. Recent initiatives — such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), deeper cooperation with Chinese enterprises, and efforts to boost the digital economy — all align well with ASEAN’s core goals of connectivity and digital integration.

However, geography and isolated policy moves are not enough for Malaysia to stand out in the region. What’s needed is a whole-of-government strategy, greater corporate involvement in regional value chains, stronger youth and civil society engagement, and more proactive public messaging to build a sense of “ASEAN identity” at home.

ASEAN Is Not a Government Solo Act

The phrase “people-centred” appears repeatedly in ASEAN 2045: Our Common Future. But for these words to be more than a slogan, people must actually feel that “ASEAN’s future is my future.” In other words, this isn’t a solo performance by governments — it’s a chorus that requires the whole society to join in.

If the people remain absent, even the most beautiful ASEAN vision will remain nothing more than ink on paper.